Obama Apologizes For Indian American Memo Gaffe
June 29, 2007
SNOW JOB: Wondering whom the GOP might want to face among Democratic White House wannabes in ‘08″ Last week, White House spokesperson Tony Snow came to the defense of Democratic contender Barack Obama, when a reporter asserted that Indian Americans have been “very angry that Senator [Barack] Obama and his campaign has [sic] been calling the Indian American community taboo and other names.” An Obama campaign staff memo criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York) for support from Indian Americans and companies doing business in India. The document mocked her as “Hillary Clinton (D-Punjab),” as in the Democrat representing Punjab. Snow downplayed Obama’s role in the anti-Hillary Clinton memo: “Not to be holding a brief for Senator Obama, but I don’t believe that he made comments of that sort. I do believe that was a staff comment for which he issued apologies.”
TIMING: Obama did apologize, but the campaign’s slight of Indian Americans overshadowed his June 15th call to the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity to confirm his co-sponsorship of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. That same day Obama’s campaign was rocked by Indian American media stories and a critical letter by U.S. Indian Political Action Committee’s Chairman Sanjay Puri.
LINE OF SUCCESSION”: The deadline has passed to qualify a recall measure this November of San Francisco Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, who represents a Richmond population that is more than 40 percent APA. The campaign led by campaign manager Johnny Wang, and backed by Chinese American veterans Cathay Post commander Bok Pon, gathered more than 2,500 signatures — short of the 3,572 needed. The campaign will aim to qualify it for the February 2008 election… Meanwhile, days before the June 22nd deadline to qualify it for November, school board member and Richmond resident Eric Mar, with labor leaders Leon Chow and George Wong, education advocate and parent Sandra Fewer, and former supervisor aide Sarah He, spearheaded an Asian American media press conference, urging voters not to sign the petition. Mar, campaign treasurer for McGoldrick, is a prospect to run for the seat if McGoldrick is recalled next year, or when he terms out in November 2008…
SEPARATED AT GIRTH: Over one late night dinner inside Chinatown’s Capital Café, embattled Supervisor Ed Jew confessed that, through his grandma, he’s a distant cousin of Sarah Low – wife of Supervisor Chris Daly. Then again, Jew, who recently returned from a trip to his family’s home village in China, is also related to a former emperor of China… Despite blood ties, Daly called for Jew’s head after losing his own seat last week as chairman of the powerful budget committee, courtesy of Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin… KITCHEN CHINA CABINET: Who was with Jew in China” Chinese American Democratic Club president Calvin Louie and club directors Tim Louie and Wilson Chu — all of whom were sharing their ventures with Jew’s other close advisors, Doug Comstock and Jew’s volunteer community liaison Ron Lee, over a late night supper… COLD SORE REMEDY: Jew’s wife Lisa’s advice: rubbing watermelon rind is a remedy for cold sores…
PASSING THE HAT: More than $100,000 (including a raffled, refurbished Mercedes) was raised for police officer Robert Ng in May to support him, his two children and wife, after he suffered a stroke…
Samson Wong can be reached at (415) 321-5886, faxed at (415) 397-7258 or e-mailed at swong@asianweek.com.
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